Philip Morris Baltic gets new regional head: Karolis Čekauskas

Karolis Čekauskas has become the new head of Philip Morris Baltic, taking over management of the company's operations across the three Baltic states. He notes that, from the perspective of the company's US investor, the Baltic region remains a strategically important market, while Philip Morris Latvia ranks among the largest taxpayers in the country.

Calling for dialogue

The new regional head says the industry currently faces serious challenges. His stated aim is to build and strengthen dialogue between the tobacco industry and policymakers, so that future decisions on restrictions and tax policy are well-considered and balanced. According to Čekauskas, such balance should benefit the state, public health, and the business environment alike.

Warning of an imbalance

Čekauskas states that this balance has currently been disrupted. He points to a thriving illegal market for tobacco and nicotine products, with resulting tax revenues falling significantly short of planned targets. He further highlights that tobacco and nicotine products sold on the illegal market are also freely accessible to young people, raising additional concerns about the broader impact on society.